Photographic washing apparatus.



No. 633,922. Patented Sept. 26;1899.

' A. STUDDIFORD. PHOTOGRAPH; WASHING APIABATUS.

(Applimtion flied Doc. 33, 1898.)

{In Model.)

A TTOH NEYS.

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UNI-T ne: STATES P T NT OFF-inn.

Ancnsrus STUDDIFORD, o e-LIBERTY, NEW YORK.

PH OTOG RAPHIG -WA-SHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 633,922, dated September 26, 1899.

Application filed D'etmter 13,1898. Serial-No. 699,139; on infidel.)

proved Washing Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

Theobject of the invention is to provide anew and improved washing apparatus,.more

especially designed for the use'of photographers and amateurs andother' persons, to enable them to wash photographic negatives and prints in an effective, thorough, and automatic manner. I

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as

. will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims. 7 I

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement on the line 1 l in Fig. 2. Fig.

2 is,a plan view of the same with part in section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, and Fig.'3is a perspective view of the rack for holding the plates.

The improved apparatus is provided with a tank A, mounted on suitable legs B and provided in its bottom with a step 0, on which is mounted to turn the hub D of a wheel 1),

having a disk D on the top of the hub, and

' a ring D concentric to the disk D and connected by wings D with the hub D, as is plainly illustrated in the drawings.

On the top of the ring D are secured a series of posts E for preventing the trays F from moving while stacked on the top of the wheel D, each tray being provided with a rectangular frame F and a wire-netting F secured to the frame and covering the open ing thereof. On the corners of. the frame F are arranged upwardly-extending flanges F on which the next following tray is set, so that the several trays have their wire-netting bottoms spaced apart, as will be readily understood by reference toFig. 1;

On one side of the tank A, which is preferably cylindrical, is arranged a well A, the bottom of which is somewhat lower than the bottom of the tank, and in this well A extends the lower end of a water-supply pipe ,H,'connectedwi th a suitable watersupply and provided at its lower end with a horizontally-disposed nozzle H, extending in a tangential. direction to the wheel D under'the ring D so as to deliver the water under pres- .sure against the wings D to rotate the wheelin the tank A, andwith it the trays F containing the'filrns or prints to be washed. In

the well A is also arranged a siphon J, the long leg of which extends through the bottom of the well, the lower end of the short leg extending to the level of the bottom of the tank A, as indicated in Fig. 1. The bend or upper portion of the siphon is a short distauce below the top of thetank. 7

When the trays F are filled withnegatives or films and wateris permitted to flow through the pipe H, then the streamof water issuing v through the nozzle Hand impinging on the wings D causes the wheel D to rotate, and

' with it the trays containing the prints or films. I

As the water accumulates in the tank A it fills the trays, and consequently washes the prints or films while the trays and films are in motion. Thus it will be seen that a very thorough and effective washing of the prints or films is assured without requiring special I manipulation of the trays by the operator.

When the water has nearly filled the tank A, it automatically sets the siphon J in action, so that the water is quickly drawn out of the tank A, especially as the supply is comparatively small relatively to the discharge of the water from the tank to the siphon.

In order to keep the prints or films moist during the time'the tank A is being refilled through the supply H and nozzle H, I pro- 0 vide a rose or sprinkler I, secured on abranch pipe I, connected with the supply-pipe H, and this rose or sprinkler I is arranged over the tank in an angular position to cause the Water to be sprayed over the entire surface of the uppermost tray, through which the wa- Y ter'can flow to the other trays below to keep the prints and films moist while the tank A refills with water, as before mentioned.

In case it is desired to wash negative plgtstm ioo/ I dispense with the trays F and e rack Gl, made in the sh apeof afi gular frame G supported'on a skeleton box G as is plainly shown in Fig. 3. The sides of the frame G are corrugated at their inner faces, as indicated at G to hold the plates securely in position in the rack and to hold the plates spaced apart to permit. the water to readily pass to the sensitive coating of the plates.

The tray G, with the plates held therein, is set on the wheel .D between the posts E, and the rack, with the plates therein, turns with the Wheel the same as the trays, the washing taking place in precisely the same manner as above described relatively tothe films and prints.

In order to render the trays useful for smaller prints, I provide thin cross-shaped frames K, adapted to rest on top of the trays, with slots in the frame-bars to carry short lugs or stops for holding the plates or prints in position. Thus, as shown, four small prints can be accommodated in one tray. The tank, the revolving Wheel, and the negative-rack are preferably provided with,suitablehandles.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A washing apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a tank having a watersupply, a wheel mounted to turn about a vertical axis in said tank and adapted to be driven by the water-supply, a series of posts extending vertically from the upper surface of said wheel and a tray on the said wheel between the posts and held thereon by said posts when the wheel is turned as set forth.

2. A washing apparatus for the purpose described comprising a tank, a wheel mounted to turn about a vertical axis in said tank and provided with a series of posts extending vertically from its upper face, and superposed trays supported on saidwheel between said posts, the said trays being formed with a rec' pipe being provided at its end with a nozzle adapted to throw a jet against the wheel to.

rotate the same and abranch pipe above the nozzle and in the upper part of the tank, the said latter pipe being provided witha sprinkl'er whereby to spray the trays while the tank refills after being emptied by the siphon, as set forth. I

4:. A washing apparatus, provided with a tray having a rectangular frame, a wire-netting oovering the opening in said frame, and

upturnedflanges on said frame, substantially V as shown and described. a

' 'AUGUSTUS S'IUDDIFORD,

, witnesses;

WILLIAM A. BEEKEN,

MARY LAZELL BEEKEN. 

